High school games cannot be on school networks

Posted on: August 11, 2011 3:48 pm

The NCAA is not allowing the televising of high school games on school or conference networks, the association ruled on Thursday.

For the moment, that seems to relieve some of the pressure created by the Longhorn Network's intention to televise such games. That was considered a main reason why Texas A&M is reportedly looking to move to the SEC.

The ruling has to be considered a blow to the Longhorn Network which forged a partnership with ESPN, based in some small part on the belief that Texas would be able to telecast high school games. An Aug. 22 NCAA summit had been scheduled to discuss the issue. The summit remains scheduled, NCAA president Mark Emmert said.

TLN and ESPN officials said previously they would be comfortable with whatever the NCAA decided. But clearly ESPN/TLN had ambitious plans. TLN chief Dave Brown said in June that the network had planned to televise up to 18 games per season. He also said there were plans to fly to different states to televise the games of players who had committed to Texas.

This does not affect the televising of high school games on networks not affiliated with a conference or school.

High school games cannot be on school networks

That is a lie. The text of the contract came out via FOIA, and Texas was required to use its influence over the UIL to get specific games.

The lies of Texas.

Since: May 10, 2010

Posted on: August 14, 2011 2:42 am

High school games cannot be on school networks

Let also take into fact that ESPN does not play fair with its viewing options. One of the big reasons that TAMU is getting away from Big 12 is that in getting the Tech/Longhorn game on TLN. ESPN threatened to blackball the game on its other networks if it wasn't put on TLN. Let me repeat.... ESPN wanted the Tech game on TLN and basically force Tech followers to subcribe to the TLN or the game would not be televised and possible Tech other Tier 1 games would be downgraded to TIER 3.

So what is to prevent to them to paying School District monies for access to TLN and exclusivity rights against Fox SW or the MY networks in Texas. What would prevent Coaches and Districts pressuring players to Texas for ESPN consideration. And since UIL is under University of TEXAS control, too much chance to beauracratic Squirreling...

But I sense Texas fighting this in state courts and getting this overruled.... Its a matter of Time.

Since: Aug 29, 2006

Posted on: August 13, 2011 10:22 am

High school games cannot be on school networks

This is more proof that liberal organizations don't believe in freedom of the press, but, rather, a perverted social justice.

Since: Nov 3, 2007

Posted on: August 13, 2011 10:22 am

High school games cannot be on school networks

Suicidaire, you ask................Where is the unfair recruiting advantage?...............the "unfair" recruiting advantage is obvious. The idea of Being seen all over the state playing your high school games would play a major part in any recruits choice of schools. In fact, why do you think the SEC has had so much success lately? Very simple. The south has an inordinate share of high school talent that is constantly bombarded with SEC games on CBS, ESPN and even FSN, and then with replays of SEC games on FSN year round. In the process these kids are constantly being told how great the SEC is. It's a huge advantage. Here's an obvious case in point. South Carolina beat Clemson this year, 2010, for the second consecutive year. The last time South Carolina won consecutive games over Clemson was 1968. That was 42 years ago. CBS's hype of the SEC has made South Carolina competitive in recruiting in South Carolina. Before the CBS hype Clemson owned both recruiting in the state and South Carolina. TV is a huge recruiiting advantage. &nbsp;

Since: Sep 17, 2009

Posted on: August 12, 2011 8:54 am

High school games cannot be on school networks

Well, Suicidaire, TLN may be a partnership with ESPN, but it is a seperate entity in regard to programming. ESPN can show whatever high school games it wants to on any of their own channels, but not on TLN. Thus is ESPN WANTS, ESPN WILL. Now will they choose to air only games of Texas high schools or of schools on which there are only Texas commits, I very much doubt it.

As for these TEXAS COMMITS, verbal commitments, as you indicate, are not recognized by the NCAA and even though they are recognized by the schools, the schools also know that anytime between the verbal commit and signing day, anything could happen. It is becoming more and more frequent that players make a verbal commtiment only to change their minds, sometimes multiple times before signing day. Thus, just because they are verbal commits to any one school it does not mean that the recruiting is over.

If you polled high school kids that have major college football playing aspirations if they would commit to a school that could put them on TV while in high school over a school that could not, I am sure that many would say yes. Whether that is a majority or not makes no difference, only that it would have an affect on the decisions being made by these kids. And that is an unfair recruiting advantage.

The schools that are complaining the loudest about the potential of this happening also have the most at stake. This also may or may not have any affect on Texas' recruiting process, but the potential of an unfair recruiting advantage is enough to put this to a stop before it gets started.

The NCAA is making a wise decision.

Since: May 2, 2008

Posted on: August 12, 2011 3:10 am

High school games cannot be on school networks

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! F*c* you texas!

Since: Oct 15, 2006

Posted on: August 11, 2011 9:43 pm

High school games cannot be on school networks

You do realize that Texas has no control over what ESPN programs, right? This isn't Texas' network. This is ESPN's network with licensed University of Texas content. In an effort to grow the channel and increase revenues, ESPN wanted to show high school games with Texas commits participating.

There are 2 key parts of that sentence. ESPN WANTED and TEXAS COMMITS. Other schools weren't going to get those kids anyway. I know the NCAA doesn't recognize verbal commitments, but schools do and most of the time, the kids do too. Where is the unfair recruiting advantage? I guess its possible that some kid on the fence might consider Texas, but really, if Texas didn't come after you, do you really think you're gonna play there?

None of the 18 kids that have committed to Texas already cares if they play on TLN. They didn't sign with Texas because they have a TV Network. They signed with Texas because it's Texas. Plenty of high school games are already broadcast, so they'll get their time in the sun regardless.

This is hardly a blow to TLN, and if ESPN feels like it is, well then I guess they lose money and noone else will get a fat, $300M contract from them...bummer. It is certainly not a blow to Texas because they weren't the ones that wanted to show the games in the first place. They get paid regardless.

All the schools that bitched only hurt themselves.

Hook 'Em

Since: Nov 30, 2006

Posted on: August 11, 2011 8:25 pm

High school games cannot be on school networks

Jmstephe, I agree with your proposition wholeheartedly. The truth, however, is that DeLoss Dodds had no intention of televising high school games unless it gave Texas an advantage in recruiting. Texas is the cancer of the Big 12, and will utltimately be the killer of a second conference it has joined. It is interesting, though, that Texas A&M has been hollering the most about the Longhorn Network and threatening to bolt to the SEC. Just last year A&M stood right behind Texas, demanding a better revenue deal than the rest of the remaining Big 12 teams. Hypocritical much?

At the end of the day one or more schools (not Texas) will be proactive and land in another BCS conference ala Colorado and Nebraska. At that point in time Texas will probably go independent. Doubtful that any other BCS conference will allow them their inequitable agenda as the Big 12 has done. It's actually too bad that the rest of the Big 12 didn't tell Texas to pound sand last year. Eventually, those schools will see that Texas would destroy the Big 12, just as it did the SWC.